The West Michigan Whitecaps beat the Bowling Green Hot Rods 8-3 Sunday, ending BG’s winning streak at nine games.

The Hot Rods’ winning streak tied a franchise record, which was set in 2011 and matched last month. Bowling Green (28-14) leads the Eastern Division in the second half, a half-game ahead of the South Bend Cubs (28-15). The only Midwest League team with a better record in the second half is the Clinton LumberKings (29-14), who lead the Western Division by five games over the Cedar Rapids Kernels (24-19) and six games over the Burlington Bees (23-20) and the Quad Cities River Bandits (23-20).

Allen extends hitting streak

The Lugnuts beat the TinCaps 1-0 in a pitchers’ duel in Lansing, but Fort Wayne’s Austin Allen was able to extend his hitting streak to 21 games. The catcher wasted no time doing so, doubling in the top of the 1st inning.

Allen’s double was one of only four TinCaps hits. All were doubles. The Lugnuts collected seven hits, including a two-out RBI single by Ryan Hissey in the bottom of the 6th inning.

Allen needs hits in his next two games to tie Fort Wayne’s longest hitting streak, which I wrote about here. The longest hitting streak in the Midwest League this season is 24 games, achieved by then-Lake County Captains catcher Francisco Mejia.